Aussie entrepreneur is BANNED from Indonesia after falsely claiming he owned ritzy villas in Bali and bragging about ‘making millions’ on the resort island
An Aussie man who went viral claiming to be a self-made millionaire thanks to his property investments in Bali has been banned from Indonesia as authorities say he owns nothing on the island.
Julian Petroulas, 33, has amassed thousands of followers on social media with posts showing his chic life on the holiday island.
“I’ve owned a lot of villas here in Bali over the years,” Mr Petroulas said in a video posted to YouTube earlier this year, titled “how to make MILLIONS of dollars in Bali.”
‘I started investing here a few years ago and it really was a gold mine.’
Later in the video, Mr Petroulas showed off a jungle-covered plot of land and described it as ‘my biggest land purchase ever – 1.1 hectares, it’s absolutely bloody crazy’.
He also showed viewers a location he described as “my restaurant, Penny Lane,” adding that “this restaurant, in Bali of all places, actually makes millions of dollars a year.”
But Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration told Daily Mail Australia this week that it had denied Mr Petroulas entry into the country.
Immigration authorities said they had refuted his claims that he owned 1.1 hectares of land on the island, as well as a restaurant called Penny Lane in Canggu.
Julian Petroulas, 33, has amassed thousands of followers on social media with posts showing his chic life on the holiday island
Immigration authorities said they had refuted Petroulas’ claims that he owned 1.1 hectares of land and a restaurant called Penny Lane in Canggu.
His visa did not allow him to own land or property in Indonesia, they said.
On Wednesday, the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement team from the Ngurah Rai Immigration Bureau visited Mr Petroulas’ villa to ensure he had no land or business in Bali.
Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar M. Godam said Mr Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination.
“This kind of content can create a negative perception among foreign investors,” he said.
“Investors will think twice about investing in Indonesia if a lot of incorrect information is spread.”
Mr Godam said that on this basis Mr Petroulas has been blacklisted and ‘will no longer be able to enter Indonesia’.
He had violated immigration laws because he was suspected of not adhering to Indonesian regulations, Godam said.
“We will use our cyber unit to monitor and analyze social media to prevent the spread of false information that could harm the country.
Saffar M. Godam said Mr. Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination.
‘Let us maintain Indonesia’s good name as a safe, comfortable and law-abiding country.
“We hope that this case can be a warning to other foreigners to always adhere to the rules in force in Indonesia.”
Only Indonesians can buy land in Bali, while foreigners can take out a long-term lease, usually of 20 to 30 years.
However, the island remains a magnet for Australians, with some still choosing to buy property on a rental basis.
Among them is a young Australian couple who bought a luxury villa on the idyllic island last month for just $485,000.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Petrolas for comment.